My Autobiography: David Balleza K(C)atague

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

They Call Us, The Elderly

From My Recent Readings on the "Elderly"
Those of us still here are lovingly called “the elderly.” But our story is far from ordinary. To look at us is to see gray hair or a slower gait, but to know us is to understand that we are the ultimate survivors of a lost world. We were born into a world of landline telephones, and somehow, we transitioned into an era of artificial intelligence and instantaneous global connection without losing our souls in the process.

Our story began in the shadow of history, born in the forties, fifties, and sixties when the world was still rebuilding itself. We grew up during the golden haze of the fifties and the neon rebellion of the seventies. We were the kids who played marbles in the dirt and checkers on a wooden table, unaware that one day our grandchildren would be crushing digital candies on a piece of glass smaller than a paperback book. 

We were the generation of Woodstock and the birth of the legendary outdoor festival, where hundreds of thousands of us gathered in muddy fields to believe in a new kind of peace. We remember the electricity of those big concerts, the Wall of Sound, the towering speakers, and the feeling of a million voices singing the same anthem under an open sky.

We studied by the light of the sixties and seventies, our notebooks filled with handwritten thoughts that required patience and ink, long before the era of "copy and paste" made information feel disposable. We fell in love under the crackle of vinyl records and the warm hiss of cassette tapes, building families and forging our own complicated paths through the eighties and nineties. We didn't just witness history; we walked through its very fire.

Think about the sheer magnitude of the bridge we have crossed. We are the only generation to have lived an entirely analog childhood and a digital adulthood. We went from waiting days for a handwritten letter to arrive in the mail to seeing a loved one’s face in real-time from across the ocean on a handheld screen. We transitioned from the mechanical age of punch cards and heavy machinery to a world where we carry gigabytes of memory in our pockets. 

We have lived through eight different decades, spanned two separate centuries, and ushered in a new millennium. We changed our clothes from the stiff Oxfords of our youth to the bell-bottoms of our rebellion, and finally to the comfortable blue jeans of our wisdom.

Even our bodies are maps of survival. We lived through the fears of polio and tuberculosis, weathered the scares of swine flu, and stood tall against the global silence of COVID-19. We saw the very building blocks of life decoded as scientists discovered DNA and moved into the frontier of gene therapy. We watched the world go from tricycles and steam to hybrid engines and electric cars that glide silently down the streets. 

We have seen many of our dear friends depart, leaving us to carry the torch of their memory, but those of us who remain are part of a unique, unbreakable brotherhood and sisterhood. We have seen it all, from the first moon landing to the rise of the internet, and we adapted every single time.

Today, we settle into these years not as relics of the past, but as the seasoned architects of the present. We have a perspective no other generation will ever have, because we remember what the world felt like before it became so fast. We know the value of a glass bottle of lemonade, the taste of a vegetable pulled straight from the garden, and the importance of a conversation that doesn't involve a keyboard. 

What a life we have led. What a breathtaking, exhausting, beautiful story we have written. 

To every one of you who belongs to this special era, take a moment to look in the mirror and smile. We are, and will forever be, a generation that is truly one of a kind.

 We aren't just getting older; we are becoming legendary. I belong to this generation. 

We are the authors of 'We Are Human Angels,' the book that has spread a new vision of the human experience and has been spontaneously translated into 14 languages by the readers.  We hope our writing sparks something in you!

AI Overview: The phrase "They Call Us 'The Elderly'" refers to a popular viral poem or social media post that celebrates the resilience and adaptability of the generation born in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s. 

The piece reflects on the vast technological and social changes this group has witnessed, often highlighting that they are a "unique generation" that bridged the gap between the analog and digital worlds. 
Key Themes of the Reflection
Decades of Change: The poem notes that this group has lived through eight different decades and two different centuries. 
Technological Evolution: It lists transitions such as moving from:Vinyl records and slides to online music and YouTube.
Handwritten letters to email and WhatsApp.
Black and white TV to 3D HD TV.
Floppy disks to smartphones with gigabytes of data. 
Health and Resilience: It mentions surviving various health crises, from polio to COVID-19. 
Social Adaptation: It describes the generation as "exennials"—people with an analog childhood and a digital adulthood who have literally adapted to "CHANGE". 

My Related Postings:  Ditas Talk to THD 

https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2025/05/our-elders-are-guardians-of-our.html


Finally, Here are some copy of my photos using ChatGPT photo regeneration capabilities in several portrait styles, oil, color, charcoal and 10 other styles. 
The original card we sent as a thank you Note to all who attended our 50th Wedding Anniversary Celebration in Boac, Marinduque, Philippines, 2007. 

Water color Copy removing all words from the original


Copy in oil Portrait Style with all the original Words. Do you have a Favorite style? 

Sunday, April 26, 2026

THD Excursion to Alameda Beach, Oakland, CA

Six THD Residents enjoyed an Excursion to Crown Beach in Alameda, today, Sunday Afternoon, 1-4PM. It was a windy day, but our trip was fun with Nancy our Capable Driver and Sylvia assisting with our snacks of cookies, chips water or soft drinks. The group decided to forgo the ice cream since it was a pretty cool day. I took pictures outside as well inside the Doug Siden visitor center as follows:

Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach is operated by the Park District under a cooperative agreement with the State of California and City of Alameda. It is named in memory of State Assemblyman Robert W. Crown, who had campaigned for its preservation as public parkland. Here are some photos from their website:

The showpiece of the park is its 2.5-mile beach, with sand dunes bordering a bicycle trail. The beach is a great achievement of landscaping and engineering. After wind and water action had eroded the beach dangerously, it was restored in early 1982 with sand from San Francisco Bay, pumped ashore by pipeline from a barge. More sand has been added since then, and groins have been constructed to keep it in place. In 2013, a $5.7 million project pumped 82,600 cubic yards of sand to restore the beach area and the dune system back to its 1987 footprint. Crown Memorial State Beach Sand Project.

Personal Note: Kudos and thanks to Nancy and Sylvia for the fun drive ( through downtown Oakland and China town) passing by Lake Merritt. We saw several churches with unusual architecture, but the Cathedral of Church Light attracted my attention.

Photos of the Cathedral from their Website:

Dining in the Clouds or Sky

There are places in this world that we visit with our feet. And then there are places we arrive at quietly, long before we ever set foot there, through a photograph, a story, or a sudden stirring of the soul.

This week, I came across one such place: BLU Restaurant, nestled within the Nuvole Garden Hotel Lake Como in the hilltop village of Brunate, overlooking the timeless waters of Lake Como, Italy.

Perched high above the lake, it is described as “suspended between sky and water.”
But what struck me was not just its elevation, it was its invitation. An invitation to pause.

At this stage in my life, I have come to understand that destinations are no longer just about movement. They are about meaning. They are about choosing, with intention, where we place our time, our presence, and our reflection.

And this place, this quiet perch above one of the most beautiful lakes in the world feels like a place meant not just for dining, but for remembering.

Remembering how far we have come. Remembering who we have been. And perhaps, gently, making peace with both.

I imagine sitting there one evening, as the sun lowers itself into the horizon, painting the sky in colors no artist could fully capture. Below, the lights of Lake Como begin to flicker, one by one like memories resurfacing in the quiet.

A simple meal becomes something more. A conversation with oneself.

A moment where time loosens its grip, even if only briefly.

In my years at the FDA, and in the long journey that followed, I have learned that life rarely announces its most meaningful moments. They arrive quietly. Unexpectedly. Often disguised as something ordinary, a meal, a view, a pause.

Perhaps that is why this place speaks to me so deeply. Not because of its luxury.

Not even because of its beauty. But because it feels like a place where one could sit, breathe, and simply be.

Meanwhile, here's the AI Overview:

BLU Restaurant
is a contemporary bistro located within the Nuvole Garden Hotel in Brunate, Italy. Perched high above Lake Como, the restaurant is known for its immersive aquatic-themed design and panoramic views of the water and surrounding mountains.

Atmosphere and Design

Aquatic Theme: The interior features deep blue velvets, aquamarine tones, and cobblestone floors designed to mimic the lakebed.
Visual Highlights: A unique "underwater" ambiance is created by water movements projected onto the ceiling and bubble-inspired lighting.
Terrace Seating: A large outdoor terrace allows for open-air dining with direct views over Lake Como.

Cuisine and Dining

The restaurant serves refined Italian bistro cuisine curated by Chef Stefano Mattara, focusing on local and seasonal ingredients from the Lario region.

Breakfast: A gourmet experience with a buffet and à la carte options, featuring homemade pastries and organic local products.
Lunch and Dinner: Offers contemporary interpretations of traditional dishes, such as saffron risotto, homemade pasta, and grilled octopus.
Dietary Options: The menu includes vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free choices.

The above restaurant reminded me of our trip to Tagaytay City, dining at -The View-Taal Restaurant in the Philippines a few years ago with a view of Taal volcano and neighboring towns.

Finally, Here's the Dreamest Restaurant in the World- The Grotta Palazzese

Grotta Palazzese is located in Polignano a Mare, a charming town in the Apulia region of Southern Italy. Specifically, the restaurant and hotel are situated in a stunning cliffside location with breathtaking views of the Adriatic Sea. You can find it at Via Narciso, 59, 70044 Polignano a Mare, Italy. It's known for its unique setting, with the restaurant literally carved into a cave, offering an unforgettable dining experience.

Lastly, here are the top news stories of the day, based on major outlets’ current homepages and headlines.

Other notable headlines

The FDA plans an ultra-fast review of three psychedelic drugs under a Trump directive.
The New York Times is highlighting a major Supreme Court roundup weedkiller case and the end of a large South Carolina measles surge.
CBS is also reporting on rising energy bills tied to the AI data center boom in the U.S..

Highlights of My Professional Career

In my more than 40 years of professional career, I have experienced both working rank and file, as well as supervising the work of subordinates. I have worked in four private firms and the Federal Government, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), where I retired. I enjoyed the challenges and difficulties of both types of job situations. This is the highlights of my work experience story.

My first job after completing my doctorate degree was a Chemist for Chemagro Corporation in Kansas City, Missouri. It was a subsidiary of Bayer Corporation, a German conglomerate. I worked for the analytical chemistry department comprised of about fifty people; half that number was either chemists or biologists. My specific task was to develop analytical methods for the detection of pesticide residues in plant and animal tissues. I worked on my own, similar to six other bench chemists, and we all reported to the same supervisor.

The firm sponsored my visa conversion from a student to a permanent resident, and I was able to legally work and reside in the United States with my family. The company generously took care of its employees. At the end of each successful year, everyone received a 13th month salary bonus. The employees and their families celebrated wonderful annual Christmas parties in a downtown Kansas City hotel, with dancing and free drinks for the whole night.

Inasmuch as I enjoyed and loved working for Chemagro for five years, I found a new job which offered a substantially higher pay. Due to my exemplary work performance, my supervisor preferred and lobbied for me to stay with the company. I had to turn him down because they could not match the package presented by my new employer. It was also a chance for me and my family to move and live in the US west coast, where the mild winter climate is bearable compared to the Midwest.

My next job was at the agricultural research division of Shell Development Company in Modesto, California. I was a Research Chemist, and again I worked individually, same as five other chemists who all reported to a supervisor. My specific duty was similar to my previous job. I worked for them for five years, until the company decided to get out of the pesticide business. They closed their research facility affecting the jobs of more than 200 employees.

My third industrial job was with the agricultural research division of Stauffer chemical company, located in Richmond, California. I was a Senior Research Chemist doing the same project as my two previous jobs. I worked for twelve continuous years for the company, with outstanding annual job performance. I became a Principal Research Chemist, the highest attainable non-supervisory position.

One day in 1986, my supervisor informed me that my job had been eliminated, and I had one day to vacate the facility. It was the most dreadful lay off experience in my life. I felt anger, sadness and humiliation to be dismissed from work with one day notice, after all the years of hard work invested for the company. This was an unforgettable incident and was the gloomiest point in my professional career.
The company terminated sixty research employees, who were upset of the bad news.

One of the chemists was distressed and expressed his outrageous anger by threatening the company and its workers. He told his supervisor of his intention to bomb and burn down the laboratory. He was immediately escorted by the security staff out of the building and into his car. He was informed to leave behind his personal belongings; they will be mailed to his residence. He was warned never to show up again near the company premises or risk getting arrested.

My supervisor was kind and allowed me to take my time to pack up my belongings. It took me two days to clear up my workplace, after toiling for a long period in the same jobsite. We were provided clerical help and office space, in preparation to look for another job, such as updating our resumes, and using the computer and copy machine. We were given six weeks of separation pay plus benefits.

Fortunately, with the help of a friend who is a Church parishioner, I found another job thirty days after leaving Stauffer chemical company. He hired me as a senior research chemist and as a group leader with two technicians to supervise. It was in the same field as my expertise in my previous three jobs spanning the last twenty one years. My new employer was Chevron Chemical Company, and which was located in the same area as my former employer.

This job gave me the introduction and basic knowledge of managing the work of subordinates. I worked for Chevron Company for four and a half years. The company decided to consolidate their research facilities in Texas, and lay off all its research employees. This time I had enough distress and agony from working, and eventually getting laid off from several private companies. To avoid going through any more miserable layoffs, I made a vow that I would never again work for a private company.

In my work experiences, there were noticeable and unavoidable jobsite occurrences. One can never miss the office romantic relationships between co-workers, both illicit and permitted. Though it was frowned upon, there was a boss and staff relationship, which was used as a ploy to get ahead in the company. Some relationships had chemistry, no pun intended, but some never worked out. Oftentimes, there was a sense of distrust among bench chemists for some workers who unjustly obtained preferred work assignments.

Some employees resorted to bribing superiors to get special privileges, such as being able to attend choice conferences and meetings in exciting venues or locations. Likewise, politics was always present at the worksites. It was during an era when various forms of harassment, equal opportunity and discrimination laws were not yet enforced in the workplace. Occasionally, an unexpected chemical explosion happens in a laboratory setting, where luckily no one got seriously hurt.

In the three private companies I worked for, I was able to publish scientific journals for some of the research studies and analytical methods which I developed for the respective companies of Chemagro, Shell Development and Stauffer.

After deciding and making a vow to avoid working in the private sector, I made my new goal which was either to work for the state of California, or the Federal government in Washington, D.C. Four months after I lost my job in Chevron, I was lucky and joyful to be hired by the Food and Drug Administration as a review chemist in the fall of 1990.

In 1994 I was promoted as an Expert Research Chemist with a GS-14 rating. My expertise was on Anti-malarial and Anti-parasitic drug products. In 1997, I was again deservingly promoted to Chemistry team leader, supervising the work of six Chemistry reviewers including five with doctorate degrees.

As team leader, I was responsible for prioritizing, assigning, and assuring the technical accuracy of all chemistry, manufacturing and control issues for all new drug applications submitted to the Division of Anti-Infective Drug Products, Center of New Drugs.

It was part of my responsibility to give advice, instruct and promote high morale and teamwork in my group. My work in the FDA is confidential, until the drug patent on the products I worked on has expired. There are manufacturing supplements that I have approved that are now open for the public in the Internet.

In 1998, I won the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Award. The citation reads, “For outstanding accomplishments in fostering the objectives of the EEO Program by hiring minorities and encouraging their professional growth while providing excellent leadership.” I have received numerous certificates of appreciation, awards in leadership and communications, commendation for teamwork and excellence in the accomplishment of the FDA mission. I have also received several letters of appreciation from private industry for my review work.

There are many good things working as rank and file while enjoying doing one’s job individually. It is a humbling, satisfying and productive experience, if one can work in harmony with one’s immediate supervisor. Working individually develops one’s skills in goal setting and scheduling. But in general, the financial rewards are less than a person who has supervisory responsibilities.

Managing the work of others has its challenges. Moreover, it develops one’s skill in handling and developing people, and the compensation rewards and benefits are better. Due to additional duties, responsibilities and leadership, supervisory work can be more stressful than working as a subordinate. However, supervisory jobs give one more personal growth and satisfaction, based on my personal experience. My work in FDA as a team leader managing the work of six scientists had been the happiest and rewarding work experience in my career in Chemistry. You might also like:

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

They Call Us, The Elderly

Sunday, April 26, 2026

THD Excursion to Alameda Beach, Oakland, CA

Dining in the Clouds or Sky

Top stories

Other notable headlines

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